Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) for Training of Postdoctoral Fellows (F32 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Can you apply?
This grant is for postdoctoral researchers seeking training support through the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) program. Eligible applicants are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents holding a research doctorate (Ph.D., M.D., D.M.D., D.V.M., or equivalent) and currently in or planning to enter a postdoctoral training position. Applications must be sponsored by an institution with a training program in a neuroscience-related field. The award supports full-time mentored research training lasting 1–3 years. Clinical trial research is excluded from this particular funding opportunity. Applicants must identify a qualified mentor and institution committed to providing structured training. The program emphasizes development of independent research careers within neuroscience and related disciplines supported by NINDS.
This grant is for postdoctoral researchers seeking training support through the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) program. Eligible applicants are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents holding a research doctorate (Ph.D., M.D., D.M.D., D.V.M., or equivalent) and currently in or planning to enter a postdoctoral training position. Applications must be sponsored by an institution with a training program in a neuroscience-related field. The award supports full-time mentored research training lasting 1–3 years. Clinical trial research is excluded from this particular funding opportunity. Applicants must identify a qualified mentor and institution committed to providing structured training. The program emphasizes development of independent research careers within neuroscience and related disciplines supported by NINDS.
Program description
The purpose of this award is to support outstanding scientific training of highly promising postdoctoral candidates with outstanding mentors. Candidates are eligible to apply for support from this program from ~12 months prior to the start of the proposed postdoctoral position to within 12 months after starting in postdoctoral position. Based on the early timeframe of eligibility, and the discouragement of inclusion of preliminary data, this NINDS F32 seeks to foster early, goal-directed planning and to encourage applications for bold and/or innovative projects by the candidate that have the potential for significant impact. Applications are expected to incorporate strong training in quantitative reasoning and the quantitative principles of experimental design and analysis. Support by this program is limited to the first 3 years of a candidate’s activity in a specific laboratory or research environment, so as to further encourage early fellowship application and timely completion of mentored training of the postdoctoral candidate in a single environment.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- County Government
- Nonprofits
- Postdoctoral Researcher
- Private University
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- Special District
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Details
This grant is for postdoctoral researchers seeking training support through the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) program. Eligible applicants are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents holding a research doctorate (Ph.D., M.D., D.M.D., D.V.M., or equivalent) and currently in or planning to enter a postdoctoral training position. Applications must be sponsored by an institution with a training program in a neuroscience-related field. The award supports full-time mentored research training lasting 1–3 years. Clinical trial research is excluded from this particular funding opportunity. Applicants must identify a qualified mentor and institution committed to providing structured training. The program emphasizes development of independent research careers within neuroscience and related disciplines supported by NINDS.
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- NIH Form SF-424 (R&R) or equivalent application form
- Project narrative (research training plan, typically 6–12 pages)
- Specific aims and research plan
- Training plan and career development statement
- Letters of reference (typically 3–5 from scientists familiar with applicant's research potential)
- Mentor's letter of commitment and description of mentoring approach
- Institutional sponsorship letter
- Budget and budget justification
- Curriculum vitae of the postdoctoral fellow
- Curriculum vitae of the proposed mentor
- Institutional resources and facilities documentation
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.853 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$82,511,281
-
$67,362,785
-
$62,646,087
-
$56,144,651
-
$45,268,737
-
$40,959,789
-
$35,655,349
-
$35,655,116
-
$35,335,145
-
$34,183,297
Top States by Funding
- MA 6 awards $186.5M
- CA 4 awards $129.9M
- OH 4 awards $112.5M
- FL 3 awards $100.3M
- MN 2 awards $99.4M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.853). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $2,362,835,459 | |
| 2025 | $2,345,500,401 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this F32 award?
U.S. citizens, nationals, and permanent residents with a research doctorate (Ph.D., M.D., D.M.D., D.V.M., or equivalent) who are in or planning to enter a postdoctoral position are eligible. You must have a sponsoring institution and a qualified mentor.
What types of research are supported?
NINDS F32 awards support postdoctoral training in neuroscience and neurological disorders research. Clinical trial research is not eligible under this specific funding opportunity.
What is the typical funding level and project period?
Typical awards provide stipend support, allowable training-related costs, and institutional support for 1–3 years of full-time postdoctoral training. Actual amounts vary based on the postdoctoral fellow's experience level.
How competitive is this award?
NRSA F32 awards are highly competitive. Success rates typically range from 15–25%, depending on the institute and fiscal year. Strong mentorship, clear research training goals, and demonstrated research potential are essential.
What is the application deadline and how often is it available?
This specific cycle has a deadline of January 7, 2028. NIH typically releases multiple cycles per year with recurring application windows, so resubmission opportunities are available if not funded initially.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Invest substantial effort in identifying a mentor with strong research credentials, good publication record, and demonstrated commitment to trainee development; the mentor's track record is critical to your competitiveness.
- Develop a well-articulated training plan that shows how your proposed research fits into a career progression in neuroscience; clearly articulate what you will learn and how it advances your independence as a researcher.
- Secure institutional commitment by ensuring your sponsor institution has adequate facilities, resources, and training infrastructure to support postdoctoral work; institutional letters should speak to specific support mechanisms available.
- Present a focused, feasible research project that is neither so routine that it lacks innovation nor so exploratory that success is uncertain; the research should be well-grounded but offer opportunities for new insights.
- Build in adequate time for application preparation (typically 8–12 weeks); work closely with your institution's grants office and mentor to refine the research narrative, ensure all documentation is complete, and obtain timely letters of support.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Common rejection reasons include weak mentor qualifications or evidence that the mentor has not successfully trained prior fellows. Another frequent pitfall is a poorly articulated training plan that reads as a standard research proposal rather than demonstrating how the experience will prepare the applicant for research independence in neuroscience. Applicants also sometimes present overly ambitious research goals that lack feasibility within the funding period, or fail to secure genuine institutional commitment with strong evidence of available training infrastructure and mentorship support.
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